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Powell's Sweet Shoppe Has New Owner

August 28, 2013

by sadmin

San Jose, CA — Powell’s Sweet Shoppe employee Bear Silber has purchased the company from its founder Michael Powell and is planning to open new corporate and franchise stores as its new CEO.
Silber, 31, joined Powell’s marketing team in 2011 and was soon promoted, eventually asking Powell if he'd be willing to sell the franchise.
“I think Michael saw my enthusiasm — in the first interview I said I'd like to own the stores at one point,” Silber says. “I admire a lot of his ideas and creativity. He still has a stake in the company and will have an advisory role.”
Silber, who says he was attracted to the nostalgia of Powell’s as a consumer, wants to open flagship corporate locations surrounded by franchise locations. “I would like to start in L.A, we're looking at Pasadena, and then moving north to Portland and Seattle. We will be looking at all the quaint Main Streets along the way to find other locations as well and from there I'd like to spread across the U.S.,” he says. Currently, Powell’s has 16 stores on the west coast and it is seeking interested franchise owners.